Francis Peirson

Francis Peirson (January 1757-6 January 1781) was a Major of the British Army who was the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey on 6 January 1781, succeeding Moses Corbet. He became acting governor after Corbet was surprised and captured by the Kingdom of France during the American Revolutionary War, and he was mortally wounded when he repulsed the French invasion at the battle of Jersey.

Biography
Francis Peirson was born in January 1757 in London, England, and he was educated at Warrington Academy before joining the British Army in 1772. In 1779, Peirson was sent to the 95th Regiment of Foot on Jersey, and on 6 January 1781 he took command of the garrison from Lieutenant-Governor Moses Corbet when he was captured by the French Army at the start of the battle of Jersey during the American Revolutionary War. Peirson repelled several French attacks before being shot through the heart, dying a valiant death. The battle would ultimately result in a British victory, with the French and Spanish forces being repelled. After his death, the tavern in which Baron Philippe de Rullecourt (the opposing commander) died of his wounds in the battle, was named The Peirson after the heroic British commander.